Back to the Song Dynasty as a tyrant

Lu Yihao came out and said: "I also think that it should be the case. Currency is credit. The imperial court minted money, concealed it, cut corners, and the people would not be willing to use it. There are many disasters caused by inferior currency in history. Since silver coins can be used to make up for it. The court should vigorously promote the shortcomings of handing in banknotes together."

Cai Mao said, "Your Majesty, I have some doubts. If silver coins are minted again and flow into the people in large quantities, what should the people do if they don't need to pay money?"

Lu Yihao said: "Then let the bank reserve silver, so that the banknotes can be exchanged for silver coins and copper coins, so as to enhance the confidence of paying banknotes."

"So, Lu Xianggong believes that we should continue to mint more currency and exile it to the people?"

"What if not?"

"Absolutely not feasible!" Cai Mao said, "The problems of people's livelihood caused by deflation are serious, but the problems of people's livelihood caused by inflation are even more serious. Moreover, why did the Japanese army have artillery when fighting Japan this time?"

Qian Yuqing glanced at Cai Mao, he seemed to realize what Cai Mao was going to say.

Cai Mao continued: "Yu Xianggong also said that the artillery of the Japanese army was sold by Fujian merchants. Kang Wang just went to Guangzhou, and the report also mentioned that some people privately made artillery. Why?"

But no one answered him.

"It's all due to Guochao's over-indulgence to businessmen in recent years!" Cai Mao's tone was surprisingly severe. "Yesterday sold artillery to the Japanese army. Did you sell artillery to Nanhai today? Nanhai is thousands of miles away from the capital. Has a large number of guns been sold, who knows?"

Wende Hall was dead silent again.

"The artillery flowed overseas, and the overseas barbarians mastered it. They gathered troops in places where the imperial court could not see, fought against the imperial court, and even sold them to big cannibals. They cultivated powerful enemies for the imperial court in the South China Sea. Why don't you mention this kind of thing?"

Speaking of this, Cai Mao looked at Lu Yihao: "What does Mr. Lu think?"

Lu Yihao said: "Is it because you are afraid that the artillery will flow into the enemy's hands, you want to contain the merchants of this dynasty?"

"Businessmen have accumulated a lot of money over the years. Why did they not discover the land of Fujian until Mr. Yu went? Why didn't officials report it before?"

"Cai Xianggong means that there is collusion between officials and businessmen in Fujian?" Zhao Ning asked.

"Your Majesty! Please investigate this matter strictly!" Cai Maoyi said solemnly, "I believe that it is not the time to let it go blindly. The imperial court has given the people a lot of benefits, enough for the people to eat and drink. If they don't control it at this time, there will be future troubles." endless!"

"Then tell me, what should you do?"

"My minister believes that there is no need to mint so much currency. The only purpose of minting silver coins is to make up for the commercial shortage caused by the damage of banknotes. The imperial court should reduce the supply of money to the people and stop blindly sending money to the people. Otherwise, more people will be born. Businessmen, these businessmen colluding with officials, one day, it will be a big disaster!"

Zhao Ding stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid there can be no conclusion on this matter today. The matter of Quanzhou merchants selling artillery to the Japanese still needs to be investigated by the imperial court. No new currency."

Zhao Ning asked: "How many silver mines have been shipped back from Japan so far?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are currently 500 million catties of silver arriving in Tokyo, and these 500 million catties of silver mines can produce between one thousand and fifteen hundred catties of silver."

This amount is obviously far from enough.

Chen Gui immediately calculated: "Last year, the total population reported by the Ministry of Household Affairs has exceeded 1.2 million people. If each person holds 50 guan, the total value of the world's currency is 60 billion guan, 24% of which is banknotes and 1.6% are silver coins. [-] billion silver coins are needed, and about [-] million catties of silver are needed."

"Urge Han Shizhong to speed up the transportation of silver mines, and dispatch merchant ships from Hangzhou!"

"Yes!"

"Your Majesty, the matter of Quanzhou, the old minister thinks that it cannot be delayed."

"Then who do you want to send to investigate?" Zhao Ning asked.

"Kang Wang is in Guangzhou, it would be best to order Kang Wang to go to Quanzhou to investigate and deal with it!"

"Then let Kang Wang go to Quanzhou to investigate the smuggled artillery."

"Yes."

Qian Yuqing's heart moved slightly, and he glanced at Cai Mao thoughtfully.

When returning home in the evening, Qian Yuqing suddenly visited Wang Zonglin's mansion.

"What kind of wind brought Qian Xianggong here?"

"Wang Taiwei, stop making fun of me." Qian Yuqing smiled wryly.

"Come on, come on, I just slaughtered a sheep today, you and I have a few drinks." Wang Zonglin smiled happily. He has gained weight recently, and he is white and fat. There are not many things to worry about.

Not long after, the people below served roast mutton and wine, and the two of them ate their mouths full of oil.

"Wang Taiwei, let me ask you something."

"What's the matter?"

"Do you know Quanzhou well?"

"I've been in the capital all along, how could I be familiar with Quanzhou?"

"I mean, the merchants there, aren't you in charge of the world's commerce? Quanzhou is the largest seaport in the Song Dynasty. Didn't you arrange a few merchants there?"

"Yes, yes, why do you ask this?"

Qian Yuqing put down the mutton and said, "You know that the imperial court is at war with Japan."

"I know, haven't you already won the battle?" Wang Zonglian also put down the mutton and said excitedly, "Let me tell you, those Japanese women in Tokyo now are not only not sad when they hear that Japan has been defeated, they are also very happy." , I met two very beautiful Japanese women the day before yesterday, they were short and short, and when they laughed, they were sweeter than honey, do you want me to send someone to your house?"

"I……"

"You must agree, or you will be arrested by that shameless old bastard Gao Li!"

"What I mean is that a businessman in Quanzhou sold artillery to the Japanese this time, and it has now reached the ears of officials."

"Sell artillery to the Japanese?" Wang Zonglian was taken aback, "Those businessmen are so courageous?"

Qian Yuqing sighed, and said, "It may be more courageous than you and I imagined. Cai Mao mentioned in the court today that the South China Sea may also be full of artillery!"

"No! Where did they get the artillery?"

"The artillery has been manufactured for more than ten years. It is not difficult for this group of businessmen to get artillery. Now Fujian Road is a key place for the imperial court to mine iron ore. What I am most worried about now is the South China Sea..." Qian Yuqing wanted to speak again end.

"A cannon is a cannon. The imperial court spends so much money every year to improve the cannon. The artillery of the people is at most the second generation!"

"This matter is no small matter. Cai Mao has always opposed a large amount of money flowing into the private sector. You still don't know his political views?"

"He is just a dawdler in power. He has done nothing in the court these years. I don't know why the officials keep him." Wang Zonglian said with disdain on his face, "Qian Dalang, you are completely worrying too much!"

"I'm afraid it's not easy."

"I have learned sophistication in Zhengshitang these years, this is not like you!"

"So, among the Quanzhou merchants, the one who is most likely to sell artillery, do you know?"

"If you want to speculate, there are several people, one is Ma Chongshan, one is Zhang Yushu, and one is Li Chen. Ma Zhongshan took the investment invitation documents for mining in Fujian, and the mining is iron ore. As for Zhang Yushu, The trade with the Japanese is the most frequent, Li Chen started his business as a pirate, and he doesn't behave properly!"

"What is the relationship between these few people and Tsai's administration?"

Wang Zonglian was stunned for a moment, and said: "They are all promoted by me, so it has nothing to do with him."

"That's right, he has already proposed to the officials to go to Fujian to investigate, who did you send to investigate?"

"Who?"

"Kang Kang."

"Investigate and investigate. If these people really want to smuggle artillery privately, they will deserve to die."

"Don't forget, Cai Mao is from Fujian. He wants to take this opportunity to eliminate your people and make way for his people. At the same time, he will make this matter bigger."

Chapter 1292 Taifu Temple Dilemma (Part [-])

Hearing Qian Yuqing's words, Wang Zonglian's expression froze, and he asked: "What's the big deal, what's the big deal, those bastards violated the imperial ban, made artillery privately, and even sold it to the Japanese without authorization, don't they? Should it be killed?"

Speaking of this, Wang Zonglin added another sentence: "That is not my person. If you count it this way, all the businessmen in the world are my people. Those **** profiteers who have done bad things are all on my head?"

He glanced at Qian Yuqing again, and said mockingly: "I said, since Mr. Qian Langjun became a politician, when did he learn to use this method to intimidate people?"

"You misunderstood, how could I threaten you for no reason." Qian Yuqing quickly explained, "Today in Wende Hall, the officials and Zaizhi discussed the matter of silver coins."

"I know this matter. The officials mentioned it to me a long time ago, and asked me to submit a report about the bank's reserve bank. When the officials established the bank, I wondered why it was called a bank and not a copper bank. Bank or money bank, now it seems that the government has made preparations for minting silver coins as early as more than ten years ago."

"I was short of copper. In the past 100 years, Guochao minted millions of copper coins every year, and it was still in short supply. Even places like Hangzhou had a serious shortage of money, not to mention the current commercial volume of the Song Dynasty, which is more than ten It has doubled several times a few years ago." Qian Yuqing said, "And the price of silver is higher than that of copper. Adding silver will make the currency value more stable. The officials are planning for the world for a century."

"You said just now that you mentioned silver coins in the Hall of Wende, how do you say it, let me listen to it, and I will make preparations early."

Qian Yuqing sighed, and said: "You know the government's attitude towards the new currency policy. You have also read "General Theory of Currency". Recently, Nanjing, Beijing, and Xijing have all submitted reports to the Gewuyuan. Flowing to the private sector, Gewu Academy recruits talents, explores new technologies, and promotes business processes, including road and water conservancy construction."

"Yeah, what's the problem?"

"The problem is that the merchants in Quanzhou sold the artillery to the Japanese. Cai Mao believes that in the past ten years, the country has been too indulgent to private merchants. This time, Kang Wang was asked to investigate the smuggled artillery case in Quanzhou. Let the imperial court investigate the situation of artillery in the southeast coast and even the South China Sea, and even the situation of merchants gathering private armed forces among the people, if this matter becomes serious, what will happen?"

"What will happen?"

"I will be the first to take you, the Minister of the Taifu Temple who controls the country's commerce!"

Hearing this, Wang Zonglin broke into a cold sweat.

He thought about it carefully, then came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Cai Mao, that bad old man who can't wake up, has such ability?"

"Not only does he have this ability, he also wants to take this opportunity to get you out of office and recommend his people to Taifu Temple."

"The official will not agree, I am the uncle of the official!" Wang Zong said stammeringly, "I am still my uncle!"

"This is not a question of uncle or not. This question is a question of the government's policy. If it is found out that most of the businessmen are colluding with the bureaucrats among the people, or even raising armed forces privately, casting artillery and guns, and forming local forces, you say that the court What sounds will come from up and down?"

Hearing this, Wang Zonglin realized the seriousness of the problem. If things become serious, he may really become the target of public criticism.

"What now?"

"Of course you asked the question first."

"Throw it out?"

Qian Yuqing said: "Bring out a big problem, just talk about the hidden dangers that may exist in the current business and political issues of the country, throw this problem to the court officials, let them discuss it, and report the solution. Get out."

"It makes sense! It makes sense!"

Wang Zong didn't drink any wine or eat mutton. He turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly found that Qian Yuqing was still here, and he smiled awkwardly: "Qian Xianggong, why don't you go back first, and I'll look for it another day." you drink."

Knowing that he was in a hurry to write a report, Qian Yuqing stood up and said with a smile, "Then I will leave first."

"I'll have someone send you off."

"No need, go get busy."

When Qian Yuqing walked out of the front hall, Wang Zonglin's voice came from behind: "Do you want a Japanese girl?"

"Keep it for yourself."

"You are young, full of energy, don't be a pity, I won't tell Concubine Shu, you..."

When night fell, Zhao Ning was drinking in the back garden.

A crescent moon hangs on the treetops, and the lake is dotted with stars.

After a day of government affairs, this is a rare leisure time. He prefers to be alone, or sometimes with his family.

Tonight, Rou Jia, Zhao Jin, Zhao Yu and Zhao Chun are all here.

Rou Jia and Zhao Chun were fiddling with something in front of the gazebo, but Zhao Jin and Zhao Yu surrounded Zhao Ning.

Zhao Jin sat very upright, his eyes were peaceful and quiet, but in this quietness, there was a bit of confusion.

Zhao Ning asked, "Third Brother, is there something on your mind?"

"It's not a big deal, it's just some confusion about studying recently." Zhao Jin said.

Concubine Shen De smiled and said: "Officials, this child is quite stubborn, and he often can't sleep at night when he can't figure it out."

"The third brother has been eager to learn since he was a child." Zhu Lian poured a glass of wine for Zhao Ning, and looked at Zhao Jin with tender eyes.

"What question, ask your father to listen to it." Zhao Ning asked.

"The day before yesterday, the teacher mentioned the disadvantages and advantages of local decentralization and governance. The teacher said that in order to limit the power of local officials to do whatever they want, they divided the power into several parts and awarded them to different people to form different official positions. For example, my Song Liguo Since the three local divisions, the disadvantages of this separation of powers are clear at a glance, and there are serious problems in the communication between the local government and the imperial court, which often leads to government orders being sent to the local government, slow action, and mutual buck-passing."

Zhao Ning was quite surprised that Zhao Jin was only ten years old this year, and she could think about this issue.

It seems that the current improvement of royal education has achieved obvious results.

In the past, the royal education was mostly Confucian classics, and Zhao Ning thought that was not acceptable.

Of course, the prince's education is another matter.

But now there is no prince in the Song Dynasty, Zhao Ning has overthrown all the education for princes in the past on ordinary princes.

This point is quite similar to the early Tang Dynasty, allowing all the princes to receive the best education, instead of setting up the Ten Kings Academy and the Hundred Sons Academy like Li Longji did.

In Zhao Ning's view, the crown prince who chooses the best among the winning princes is responsible to the country.

As for the struggle between the princes?

He didn't care.

As long as the safety of life is ensured, competition can produce the king.

But the premise is that this kind of competition should be delineated within a certain range.